Device for opening and closing windows, shutters, and similar appliances



Jan. 18 1927.

Filed Sept. 18, 1925 J. L. STOWERS' DEVICE FOR OPENING AND CLOSING WINDOWS, SHUTTERS, AND SIMILAR APPLiANCES ,/-2a & T51

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Jan. 18, 1927. 4,500

J. L. STOWERS DEVICE FOR OPENING AND CLOSING WINDOWS SHUTTERS, AND SIMILAR APPLIANCES Filed Sep t. 18, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY 1,614,500 Jan. 18, 1927. J. L STOWERS DEVICE FOR OPENING AND CLOSING WINDOWS, SHUTTERS, AND SIMILAR, APPLIANCES Filed Sept. 1a, 1925 s Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VEN TOR.

Patented Jan. 18, 1927.

UNITED STATES I JOHN L. STOWERS, OF HABANA, CUBA.

DEVICE FOR OPENING ANDCLOSING WINDOWS, SHUTTERS, AND SIMILAR APPLIANCES.

Application filed September 18, 1925. Serial No. 57,081.

My invention relates to a mechanism by which windows, shutters, doors, and other similar appliances are opened or closed by the application of the weight of a liquid utilized as the power or force for the opening or closing of such appliances, and upon the automatic removal of such weight said appliances are closed or opened, as the case may be, by force of gravity.

The objects of my device and mechanism are to provide means whereby windows, shutters, doors, and similar appliances, designated in the claims as pivoted closures, may be closed or opened upon the occurrence of any predetermined condition, or at any predetermined time, as for example, when rain begins to fall, or when rain ceases to fall, and these objects are attained by the automatic use of the weight of the rain either for the opening or the closing of the Windows, shutters, doors, etc., when rain beings to fall, and means for automatically removing said weight when rain ceases to fall, thereby permitting said windows, doors, shutters, etc., to be opened or closed, as the case may be, by the force of gravity.

I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which- Fig. 1 shows a .sideelevation of the mechanism of my invention Fig. 2 shows a front elevation of the mechanism of my invention on the lines 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 shows a plan view of my invention on the lines 3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 shows a plan View of my invention on the lines 44 of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 shows an elevation of a section of roof and wall of a building having windows or shutters and illustrates the manner in whiclrmy device is installed to operate perpendicular.pinioned windows or shutters; Fig. 6 is also an elevationof a section of roof and wall of a building supplied with windows or shutters, horizontally pinioned, and illustrates themanner in which my device is installed to operate this character of Window or shutter;,Fig. 7 shows a side elevation on the line 7-7 ofFig. 6; and Fig. 8 shows a plan view on the lines 88 of Fig. 5 with the windows open.

' Similar letters and numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

In the form of my invention shown in the several figures, the roof, 1, is provided with the usual gutter, 2, for the discharge of rain water falling on the roof, which gutter may be located as desired.

The gutter 2, is provided with an orifice, 3 (preferably covered by a screen 38) to which is connected the usual drain leader pipe, 3, leading to the horizontal pipe, 4,

(as shown in Fig. 5). The horizontal pipe,

chamber, 12, contains the receptacle, 13,

which is provided with the outlet, 14, (Fig. 2), and the stop-cock, 15, and the suspension cord, 16. This suspension cord, 16, may be attached directly to a lever for opening and closing windows, shutters, etc., as shown at 17 in Fig. 6 or may, after passing over pulleys, be secured to levers, 18, and to a weight, 19, as shown in Fig. 5. By connecting the windows which form a horizontal row and by applying my mechanism to one of the windows the whole row may be opened or closed, as required, and by connecting the windows of one row with the windows of one or more rows above or be low, thewindows on one side of a building may be operated by my mechanism applied to a single window.

The horizontal pipe, 4, is also connected with the perpendicular pipe, 20, (which is closed at its top) at the orifice, 21, (Fig. 2), and the pipe, 20, is connected along its side with the leader, 3, and the opening connecting the pipe, 20, is covered by a screen, 22, which'screen also extends downward-into the horizontal pipe, 4, to cover the entire interior area of pipe, 4, (Fig. 2). The drain leader pipe, '3, at the opening, 23, is con nected with the horizontal pipe, 24, (Fig. 1), which in turn, at the opening, 25, is connected with the perpendicular by-passpipe, 26, and the bypass pipe, 26, at the opening, 27 is connected with the horizontal pipe, 28, which in turn, at the opening, 29, is connected with the perpendicular pipe, 10, which is the continuation of the leader pipe,

'3. The cord, 16, passes through the protecting pipe, 30, as shown in Fig. 2, such proacting pipe, 30, being of suflicient length to extend above the opening, 23, in the drain leader pipe, 3. The leader pipe, 3, is provided with the plug, 31, for the purpose of cleaning the leader and the horizontal pipe, 1. The chamber, 12, is provided with the plug, 32, so that the chamber, 12, may be cleaned and the receptacle, 13, can be removed for cleaning or repair.

The tubing and mechanism constituting my invention is inserted in the drain leader pipe, 3, andis supported by such leader; this support may be augmented by the bracket, 33, as shown in Fig. 1, which bracket is attached to the side or wall of the building, 3%; the mechanism may be within the building or secured to the outside of the building wall. The lever, 17, may be attached to the windows, in the manner shown in Fig. 6, and the levers, 18, may be attached to the windows, 36, in the manner shown in Fig. 5.

The operation of my device is as follows:

Assuming that it is desired to apply my mechanism for closing windows which are normally held open (as shown in Fig. 7) either by gravity in connection with the construction of the window or by the manner in which it is pinioned or by the counterweight, 19, when rain falls the water falls from the slope of the root, 1, to the gutter, 2, into the drain leader pipe, 3, to the horizontal pipe, 4-, and to the recepta-cle,.13, which rapidly fills with water. The weight of the liquid contained in the receptacle, 13, as thereceptacle fills, counter-balances and overcomes the inertia of the window or shut ter, etc., and the counter-weight, 19 and the weight of the liquid in the receptacle, 13, will cause the window or shutter to close. As long as the rain continues, the receptacle, 13, will continue filled with rain water and the window 'or shutter, etc, will maintain its closed position. Vdhen the rain ceases the water will cease running into the receptacle, 13, and this receptacle will be emptied through the drip opening, 11. This grip opening may be arranged 051 such size, by means of the stop-cock, 15, as to empty the receptacle, 13, in any predetermined period. Of time. As soon as the receptacle, 13, is emptied through the drip opening, 11. gram ity (or assisted by the counter-weight, 191) will cause the window or shutter to open If desired the window or shutter may be secured in either a closed or open position by a positive fastening, as is customary.

. In order to prevent interference with the operation of my device by clogging, I pro,- vide the pipe,20, and the screen,22, whereby any dirt or refuse passing down the leader pipe, 3, will .be prevented from passing into thereceptacle, 13, and will pass down in the leader where it ,maybe removed through the plug opening, 31. This wire sieve con- Rec 1 .coversqand protects from clogging the entire opening between the leader, 3, and the pipe, 20, and the horizontal pipe, 41, which leads to the receptacle, 13. The receptacle, 13, is also covered by one or more wire screens, 3?,to prevent any dirt or refuse passing into the receptacle, 13, and whereby such dirt or refuse is screened andpasses down the chamber, 12, around the receptacle, 13, and may be removed through the plug opening, 32. The connection between the gutter, 2, and the leader pipe, 3, is also preferably covered by a screen, 38, to prevent refuse passing from the gutter into th-efdrain leader pipe.

After the receptacle, 13, has tilled, the. surplus fluid then passing down through the drain leader pipe will pass around the receptacle, 13, through the chamber, 12, and thence pass to the .pipe, 10, which is the continuation of the drain leader pipe, 3. In the event that the orifice admitting the fluid to the chamber, 12, should be clogged, to prevent an overflow, the by-pass, 6, is provided which furnishes means for the .tluid to pass to the horizontal pipe, 8, and thence to the .drain leader pipe, 10.

The additional by-pass, 2b, is also provided which connects the drain leader pipe, 3, with its continuing pipe, 10, whereby it all connections through the pipe, 4, should be clogged, the fluid will be carried off by means of this by-pass, 26. The pipe, 30, enclosing the cord, 16, extends above the open- -ng, 23, of the by-pass, 26, in ,order to pre vent any overflow through this pipe in the 1 event that the horizontal pipe, 4, should become clogged; that is, the fluid will flow through the bypass, 26, and not out of the top of the pipe, 30.

By my invention, danger from clogging the outlet ,to the receptacle, 13, 'is guarded ,by the severalscreens and by providing the screened side opening between the leader drain, 3, and the pipe, 20. In addition to the outlet around the receptacle, 13, to avoid damage from overflow due to clogging, I provide the lay-pass, 6, and the further bypass, 26.

In the foregoing: description of the opera tion ofmy device, lhave described rain water as the liquid operating medium, but it is obvious that any liquid may be used, and other water than rain water may be employ-ed. For example, my device may be util zed for the opening or closing of windows, shutters, 1Z0

doors, etc. at night, or in the morning, or for the operation of tire shutters, and the l quid operating medium may be water from a tank on the root, or from a pump, or any other source of supply, and my device put into operation for the closing of suchv windows .or shutters in the event of danger from fire, or other cause. It is also obvious that my device may be made operative for either opening or closing windows, shutters, doors.

etc, at any predetermii'ied time 01' under any predetermined conditions of weather, temperature, etc, by applying a liquid or fluid operating medium from a tank, pump, or other source of supply, which may be put into operation by a clock mechanism, thermostat, electric Icurrent, electric fuse, or other similar devices.

I claim:

1. A mechanism for opening and closing pivoted closures, consisting of a movable liquid-holding receptacle connected with a leader drain of a buildling, which receptacle is normally empty and in a raised position but when tilled is moved by the weight of the liquid to a lower position, said receptacle being secured to pivoted closures, and having near its bottom a discharging outlet,

said mechanism having two by-passes connecting the leader drain above the receptacle with the leader drain below the receptacle.

2. A mechanism for opening and closing pivoted closures, consisting of a movable liquid-holding receptacle contained in an enclosed chamber, said receptacle and chamber being connected with a roof leader drain of a building, said receptacle being normally empty and in a raised position but when tilled is moved by the weight of the liquid to a lower position, said chamber containing a by-pass for liquid to pass from above the receptacle to below the receptacle, said receptacle being secured to pivoted closures, and having near its bottom a discharging outlet, said mechanism having an addition al by-pass connecting the leader drain above the receptacle with the leader drain below the receptacle.

3. A mechanism for opening and closing pivoted closures, consisting of a movable liquid-holding receptacle associated with a roof leader drain of a building, said receptacle normally being empty and in a raised position but when filled is moved by the weight of the liquid to a lower position, said receptacle being secured by a lever arm to pivoted closures, a chamber connected near its top and bottom with said leader drain and containing said receptacle and having a by-pass for liquid to pass from above the receptacle to below the receptacle, said receptacle having near its bottom a discharging outlet, said mechanism having an additional discharging by-pass connecting the leader drain above the receptacle with the leader drain below the receptacle.

JOHN L. STOWERS. 

